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Combating cancer, injury and disfigurement in the most socially important part of our bodies – the face and mouth

The face is the only part of our body we cannot hide. It conveys our emotions and innermost feelings. We often judge each other on the basis of facial appearance, making assumptions on a whole range of issues.

People suffer the consequences of facial diseases, injuries and disfigurement every day. In the United Kingdom 6,500 people develop oral cancer every year. Around 125,000 young people sustain serious facial injuries and 15,000 people receive treatment for facial disfigurement.

Despite the severity of these issues, this remains a much neglected research area leaving thousands of those unfortunate enough to be affected with little hope for the future. Not enough is known about facial disease, injury and deformity, their psychological and emotional impact and, critically, which treatments are most effective. Saving Faces - The Facial Surgery Research Foundation is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to the worldwide reduction of facial injuries and diseases. We are taking the lead in education and research to improve the physical and psychological treatment of all victims of oral cancer and other facial diseases.

David's story

In 1990 at the age of 23, David had a dramatically small lower jaw. This meant that his lower lip was permanently curled over his chin and he had sores on his chin crease almost all the time because of saliva collecting in this area. His gums were also stretching away from his lower incisor teeth because of the pull of his lower lip. The lower teeth were positioned far behind the upper set and because of this he could only eat soft foods.

In the same year he underwent surgery in which his lower jaw was fractured on both sides at the back and bone grafts using his own ribs were inserted to push it forward (inverted L osteotomies). His jaws were fixed in place with metal plates.

Following this surgery his life has improved dramatically. He is able to eat a normal diet and no longer has any sores on his chin. Prior to the operation people stared at him because of his absent chin and he lacked confidence, but he is now no longer self-conscious about his appearance.

He is now married, works as a service engineer and enjoys playing football as a centre-forward. He supports West Ham United.